By Richard Russo
College professor Jack Griffin is heading to Cape Cod, where he and his wife Joy will celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura's childhood friend. As he drives along he begins thinking back to the summers he spent there, a respite from the hated Midwest for his parents, but also to his honeymoon many years ago with Joy and the pact/plans they made on how they wanted to live there lives together.
Jack is not alone as he drives. The urn containing the ashes of his late father is in his trunk. This is the other reason for this pilgrimage to the Cape, to spread his father's ashes in the only place he believes his father was truly happy. He also has the constant ringing of his cell phone, his forever critical mother on the other end to keep him company.
As Griffin reflects on his life and the choices he's made, leaving screenwriting in L.A. for the kind of New England professorship his snobby academic parents longed for. He and Joy moving into "an old house with character" like she grew up in and starting a family. All the pieces seemed to fit the picture, but as the saying goes, "be careful what you wish for..." Has he, in trying so hard not to become is unhappy parents, really turned out like them more than he realizes?
Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo writes a story of middle-age, the ties that bind, from marriage and family, in-laws and promises, both fulfilled and broken. If you like Nicholas Sparks, you'll enjoy this book, a kind of male version of "women's fiction."
Cape Cod & Cranberries!
Cranberry Rangoons from Cape Cod Cranberry Growers' Association
Ingredients
3/4 cup fresh cranberries
1 jalapeno pepper
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup mayonnaise
10 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. won ton wrappers
1 quart oil for frying
Prep
Combine cranberries, jalapeno, sugar & mayo in food processor. Process until smooth. divide mixture in half and reserve one half for dipping sauce. With the remaining half, blend with cream cheese until smooth.
Lay a few won ton wrappers at a time out onto a clean cutting board. spoon 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each wrapper. Brush the edges of the wrappers with water and fold in half making a triangle. Set aside.
Heat the oil to temperature between 260-280*F. Carefully place the won tons in oil when heated, cook until golden. Take out won tons and place on paper towel to drain. Serve hot with reserved cranberry relish. Yield: 24 servings.
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